Estoril Open 2002 News and Events

April 11, 2002

Marat Safin survived another scare at the Estoril Open before moving through to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Adrian Voinea.

The weather in Estoril on Thursday was anything but player friendly. Extremely windy conditions made it very difficult for most players to be on top of their game. During his match with Voinea, Safin asked ATP Supervisor Ed Hardisty whether or not the match should be played. After determining there was not a safety risk, Hardisty and tournament officials decided play should continue.

Safin, who needed three sets to overcome David Ferrer in the first round on Wednesday, found his game at the right time to end Voinea's challenge.

"It was terrible out there today." Safin said regarding the weather, which forced several tournament staff tents to be evacuated for threat they might blow over.

The Russian, who has won two previous clay court titles (Barcelona, Mallorca in 2000), now meets rising star Jarkko Nieminen, the 20-year-old from Finland who surprised everyone last year by reaching the final in Stockholm in only his second ATP event.

Nieminen followed up his first round victory over No. 8 seed Alberto Martin with an equally impressive 6-1, 6-2 win against Martin's fellow Spaniard Galo Blanco. Nieminen has only dropped eight games in his two matches so far and will be full of confidence going into his first meeting with Safin.

Third seed Carlos Moya was very happy play was not stopped because of the grueling wind. Moya, who had not played since his opening round win on Monday, defeated Italy's Federico Luzzi, 6-2, 7-6(3).

"I would have had to play two matches on Friday," Moya said about canceling Thursday play. "I am glad we played today and now I am in the quarterfinals and anything can happen."

Moya, the 2000 Estoril champion, will face Max Mirnyi in the quarterfinals. Mirnyi bounced back impressively from the loss of the first set to defeat Albert Montanes 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

SANEX WTA TOUR

Montolio Rolls into Quarterfinals

Spain's Angeles Montolio moved into the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year at the Estoril Open on Thursday.
The tournament's defending champion needed just over an hour to defeat France's Celine Beigbeder, 6-2, 6-2.

The top-seed Montolio, who is 24th in the latest Sanex WTA Tour rankings, has now won seven consecutive matches dating back to her victory last week at the Porto Open.

Up next for Montolio is Germany's Anca Barna. Barna, playing as a qualifier this week, outlasted No. 7 seed Katarina Srebotnik to advance to the quarterfinals. Loudres Dominguez Lino, another qualifier, also reached the next round by defeating Rita Kuti Kis in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.